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PATHFINDERA Guide to Information Resources for
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
By Camille Lebel
IntroductionOf Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, narrates the story of two migrant workers during the Great Depression and is one of the most widely taught (and banned) books of the past century. While the novel easily yields itself to lessons covering an array of literary standards, it is the timeless themes of friendship, loneliness, and the corrupted American Dream that engage students in a lasting and meaningful way.
This Pathfinder will seek to guide users to the best resources for preparing to teach the novel and help
students prepare for an in-depth, critical literary analysis of the work.
Essential Questions What are the key teaching elements present in the
novel? What are the best resources for lesson planning a novel unit?
What impact does the novel’s setting and historical context have on the plot, characters, and themes?
How does the author’s life and background influence the novel and its themes?
What are the best sources for finding valid and student-accessible literary criticism?
Resource Menu
1. Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
2. About the Author
3. Setting (Great Depression, Migrant Workers, and Dust Bowl)
4. Literary Criticism
Click John to return to this menu.
Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
1. PRINT
2. CD/CD-ROM
3. ON-LINE
4. FILM
First published in 1937, Of Mice and Men now has dozens of editions available. It has been adapted for the stage, film, television, and radio.
Steinbeck, J. (1993). Of mice and men. New York: Penguin Books.
Cliff’s Notes and similar study guides provide character maps, critical essays, review questions, and a resource center with suggestions for magazines, Web sites, and films for further study.
Van Kirk, S. (2011). Of mice and men: Notes. Lincoln, Neb.: Cliff's Notes.
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Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
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CD-ROM
An interactive CD-ROM version of the book:
Byron Preiss Multimedia (Firm), & Penguin Books USA, Inc. (1995). Of mice and men CD-ROM. New York: Byron Press Multimedia and Penguin USA.
Located through WorldCat, this CD-ROM includes information on the socio-historical context of the novel, plot, themes, setting, characterization, style, symbols, author’s biography, critical reaction, and teacher’s notes.
Steinbeck, J., & Prestwick House. (2009). Lead-ins to literature: Of mice and men. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House.
On-LineOf Mice and Men at a Glance. (n.d.). Of Mice
and Men by John Steinbeck CliffsNotes. Retrieved from url
Of Mice and Men. (n.d.). Enotes.com. Retrieved from http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men
Of Mice and Men. (n.d.). SparkNotes. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2011 from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Teaching Of Mice and Men" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2012 from url
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Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
These resources each provide complete discussions of plot, characters, and theme as well as discussions of literary elements such as irony and foreshadowing. They also have practice quiz questions and additional study materials helpful to students or teachers. However, both Shmoop and Enotes require payment to reach advanced lesson planning materials.
Continued…
On-Line
The Center for Steinbeck Studies is a university research archive dedicated to the sole purpose of promoting study and appreciation of Steinbeck’s life and work. It includes links to hundreds of resources relative to teachers, students, and scholars at all levels.
Steinbeck Center. (n.d.). Steinbeck Center. Retrieved on Nov. 6, 2011 from http://as.sjsu.edu/steinbeck/resources/index.jsp
The novel can be found on-line from Google Books. This is a nice option for students who may have Internet access but don’t wish to purchase a novel.
Of Mice and Men. (n.d.). Google Books. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2012 from url
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Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
FILM
Sinise, G. (Director), Sinise, G. (Producer), & Foote, H. (Writer). (1992). Of mice and men [Motion picture]. United States: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Milestone, L. (Director), Solow, E. (Writer). (1939). Of mice and men {Motion picture]. United States: Hal Roach Studios.
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Source Materials and Comprehensive Teaching Guides
About the Author
1. PRINT
2. ON-LINE
3. VIDEO
A simple search for “John Steinbeck” through most library catalogues provides hundreds of resources. However, adding “biography” to the search was a helpful limitation in finding materials relating to Steinbeck’s life and times.
Benson, J. J. (1984). The true adventures of John Steinbeck, writer: A biography. New York: Viking Press.
Parini, J. (1995). John Steinbeck: A biography. New York: H. Holt.
Steinbeck, J., S. Shillinglaw, and J. Benson. (2003). America and Americans, and selected non fiction. New York: Penguin.
Valjean, N. (1975). John Steinbeck, the errant knight: An intimate biography of his California years. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Van, A. M., Bruccoli, M., & Johns, S. (1982). Dictionary of literary biography documentary series: An illustrated chronicle. Detroit: Gale Research.
About the Author
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Video
This three-minute on-line biographical video contains footage from the time-period perfect for an introductory unit on the author or his works.
John Steinbeck - Mini Bio. (n.d.). Bio.com. Retrieved from url.
About the Author
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On-Line
About the Author
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Most on-line encyclopedias contain substantial entries on John Steinbeck and his work. Here are some examples:
www.encyclopedia.com (Searching “John Steinbeck” results in entries from four encyclopedias.) "John Ernst Steinbeck." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Retrieved
November 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: url Perkins, Barbara M. "Steinbeck, John." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012.
Retrieved on Nov. 6, 2011 from url.
Continued…
On-Line
About the Author
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Steinbeck was investigated by the FBI during the 1940s on suspicions of association with communist groups. That investigation is detailed here.
John Steinbeck (n.d.). Federal Bureau of Investigation - Freedom of
Information Privacy Act. Retrieved on Nov. 6, 2011 from url
Goodreads provides a sufficient biography of Steinbeck as well as a convenient list of all his works, complete with summaries, and feedback from readers.
John Steinbeck. (n.d.). Goodreads. Retrieved from url.
The Role of Setting
1. PRINT
2. VIDEO
3. ON-LINE
The Role of Setting
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PRINTTry combinations of the keywords “John Steinbeck,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Great Depression,” and “Dust Bowl” in the Tennessee Electronic Library , Omnifile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson), or other databases accessible from your library for a selection of articles. Most resources are critical of the works as a whole, but examples such as these focus specifically on the role of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl in influencing Steinbeck’s writing.
Fahy, T. (2003). Worn, damaged bodies in literature and photography of the great depression. Journal Of American Culture, 26(1), 2-16. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2011 from Ebscohost.
Reith, D. (2004). "Futile dreams and stagnation: politics in Of Mice and Men: the American novelist John Steinbeck has sometimes been criticised as a sentimentalist. Duncan Reith uncovers the bleak political pessimism behind his novel of ranch life during the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men." The English Review 15.2 :6+. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from the Literature Resource Center.
Shindo, C. J. (2000). "The Dust Bowl Myth." The Wilson Quarterly 24.4: 25. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from General OneFile.
Windschuttle, K. (2002). "Steinbeck's myth of the Okies." New Criterion 20.10 :24+. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from General OneFile.
Continued…
The Role of Setting
Wormser, R. (1994). Growing up in the Great Depression. New York: Atheneum
This book chronicles the history of the Great Depression in a unique way by approaching it through the viewpoint of children during the era. Hoboes, farmers, migrant workers, laborers, union organizers, and African Americans are all represented through interviews conducted by the author and archival letters. Amazon contains a summary as well as recommendations for similar books.
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The Role of Setting
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VIDEOReichelt, P., & Menningen, J. (1990). John Steinbeck and the American
experience [E-Video]. Princeton, N.J.: FMG on Demand.
This video can be accessed on-line by libraries with subscriptions. The E-video provides a “comprehensive portrait of John Steinbeck and the America he depicted, providing students with an appreciation of one of the 20th century's definitive literary voices.” The video includes a significant focus on the Dust Bowl and its role in creating extensive poverty and injustice during the following years.
The Role of Setting
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On-Line
For a variety of encyclopedia articles, use “dust bowl,” “Great Depression,” and “migrant labor” in www.encyclopedia.com.
Voices from the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin migrant worker collection, 1940-1941. (n.d.). Voices from the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Worker Collection, 1940-1941. Retrieved from url.
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s. (n.d.). The Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Retrieved from url. (Includes video interviews of people who lived through the Dust Bowl.)
Literary Criticism
1. PRINT (Books)
2. PRINT (Journal Articles)
3. ON-LINE
4. VHS
Literary Criticism
There is an ample selection of criticism relating to John Steinbeck and his novel, Of Mice and Men. Conduct a catalogue subject search for his name joined with “Criticism and Interpretation.” These examples include critical responses that that analyze themes, symbols, and structure.
Benson, J. J. (1990). The short novels of John Steinbeck: Critical essays with a checklist to Steinbeck criticism. Durham: Duke University Press.
Karson, J. (1998). Readings on Of mice and men. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.
Levant, H., & French, W. G. (1974). The novels of John Steinbeck: A critical study. Columbia: University of Missouri Press.
Marks, L. J. (1969). Thematic design in the novels of John Steinbeck. The Hague: Mouton.
Meyer, M. J. (2009). The essential criticism of John Steinbeck's Of mice and men. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
PRINT (Books)
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Literary Criticism
Literally thousands of academic journal articles are available analyzing all aspects of Steinbeck’s work. Using a combination of “John Steinbeck,” “Of Mice and Men,” and “criticism” was sufficient for all databases. However, depending on the nature of research, adding key terms (racism, American Dream, friendship) related to specific themes would help limit results.
From the Literature Resource Center:
Cardullo, B. (2007). "On the road to tragedy: mice, candy, and land in Of Mice and Men." American Drama 16.1: 19+. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from Literature Resource Center.
Leaf, J. (2007). "Of mice & melodrama." New Criterion 26.4:84+. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from Literature Resource Center.
PRINT (Journal Articles)
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Continued…
Literary Criticism
From the General OneFile (Infotrac)
Carrington,I. (1994). "Talking dirty: Alice Munro's 'Open Secrets' and John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men.'." Studies in Short Fiction 31.4 (1994): 595+. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2012 from General OneFile.
Hays, P. L. (2004). "Steinbeck's plays: from realism to abstraction." Studies in the Humanities 31.1: 92+. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2012 from General OneFile.
PRINT (Journal Articles)
Click to return to section menu.
Continued…
Literary Criticism
From OmniFile Full Text Mega (H.W. Wilson)
Armengol-Carrera, J. M. (2009). Of friendship: revisiting friendships between men in American literature. Journal Of Men's Studies, 17(3), 193-209. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from Omnifile.
From Communication and Mass Media Complete
Anitha, R. R. (2010). Racism and the American dream in John Steinbeck's of mice and men. Language In India, 10(4), 2. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from Communication and Mass Media Complete.
PRINT (Journal Articles)
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Literary Criticism
On-Line
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A project of Ball State University, the Digital Media Repository maintains on-line access to volumes of the Steinbeck Quarterly Journal, published by the John Steinbeck Society of America from 1968-1993.
Digital Media Repository. (n.d.). Steinbeck Quarterly Journal. Retrieved on Nov. 7, 2012 from url
The Steinbeck Review is a peer-reviewed, bi-annual journal that explores the life and works of John Steinbeck. It contains scholarly articles, essays, notes, book and performance reviews, and contemporary references about the writer.
Wiley: Steinbeck Review. (n.d.). Wiley: Steinbeck Review. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2012 from url
Literary Criticism
VHS
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N. (Director). (1966). The novel: 1914-1942--the loss of innocence [Motion picture]. USA: National Educational Television and Radio Center.
This film uses photographs, film clips, drawings, and paintings to explore themes in the works of several major authors, including Steinbeck.
BibliographyAnitha, R. R. (2010). Racism and the American dream in John Steinbeck's of mice
and men. Language In India, 10(4), 2. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from url. Armengol-Carrera, J. M. (2009). Of friendship: revisiting friendships between men in American literature. Journal Of Men's Studies, 17(3), 193-209. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from Omnifile. Benson, J. J. (1990). The short novels of John Steinbeck: Critical essays with a checklist
to Steinbeck criticism. Durham: Duke University Press. Benson, J. J. (1984). The true adventures of John Steinbeck, writer: A biography. New
York: Viking Press. Byron Preiss Multimedia (Firm), & Penguin Books USA, Inc. (1995). Of mice and men CD-ROM. New York: Byron Press Multimedia and Penguin USA.
Cardullo, B. (2007). "On the road to tragedy: mice, candy, and land in Of Mice and Men." American Drama 16.1: 19+. Literature Resource Center. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from LRC.
Carrington,I. (1994). "Talking dirty: Alice Munro's 'Open Secrets' and John
Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men.'." Studies in Short Fiction 31.4 (1994): 595+. General OneFile. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2012 from General OneFile. Digital Media Repository. (n.d.). Steinbeck Quarterly Journal. Retrieved on Nov. 7,
2012 from url Fahy, T. (2003). Worn, damaged bodies in literature and photography of the great
depression. Journal Of American Culture, 26(1), 2-16. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2011 from EbscoHost. Get Homework Help with CliffsNotes Study Guides. (n.d.). Get Homework Help with
CliffsNotes Study Guides. Retrieved from http://www.cliffsnotes.com/ Hays, P. L. (2004). "Steinbeck's plays: from realism to abstraction." Studies in the
Humanities 31.1: 92+. General OneFile. Retrieved Nov. 5, 2012 from General OneFile.
"John Ernst Steinbeck." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Retrieved
November 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: url.
Bibliography
John Steinbeck (n.d.). Federal Bureau of Investigation - Freedom of Information Privacy Act. Retrieved on Nov. 6, 2011 from url John Steinbeck. (n.d.). Goodreads. Retrieved from url. John Steinbeck - Mini Bio. (n.d.). Bio.com. Retrieved from url. Karson, J. (1998). Readings on Of mice and men. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press. Leaf, Jonathan. "Of mice & melodrama." New Criterion 26.4 (2007): 84+. Literature
Resource Center. Retrieved on Nov. 5, 2012 from LRC. Levant, H., & French, W. G. (1974). The novels of John Steinbeck: A critical study.
Columbia: University of Missouri Press.
Marks, L. J. (1969). Thematic design in the novels of John Steinbeck. The Hague:
Mouton. Meyer, M. J. (2009). The essential criticism of John Steinbeck's Of mice and men.
Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Bibliography
Meyer, M. J. (2000). The betrayal of brotherhood in the work of John Steinbeck.
Lewiston [N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press. Milestone, L. (Director), Solow, E. (Writer). (1939). Of mice and men {Motion
picture]. United States: Hal Roach Studios. N. (Director). (1966). The novel: 1914-1942--the loss of innocence [Motion picture].
USA: National Educational Television and Radio Center. National Steinbeck Center. (n.d.). Educational Resources :Retrieved Nov. 6, 2011
from http://www.steinbeck.org/pages/educational-resources Of Mice and Men. (n.d.). Enotes.com. Retrieved from http://www.enotes.com/of-mice-and-men
Of Mice and Men. (n.d.). Google Books. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2012 from http://books.google.com/books?id=v3yqHR7keCcC Of Mice and Men. (n.d.). SparkNotes. Retrieved Nov. 6, 2011 from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/micemen/
Bibliography
Parini, J. (1995). John Steinbeck: A biography. New York: H. Holt. Perkins, Barbara M. "Steinbeck, John." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2012.
Retrieved on Nov. 6, 2011 from url. Reichelt, P., & Menningen, J. (1990). John Steinbeck and the American experience [E-
Video]. Princeton, N.J.: FMG on Demand. Reith, D. (2004). "Futile dreams and stagnation: politics in Of Mice and Men: the
American novelist John Steinbeck has sometimes been criticised as a sentimentalist. Duncan Reith uncovers the bleak political pessimism behind his novel of ranch life during the Great Depression, Of Mice and Men." The English Review 15.2 :6+. Literature Resource Center. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from Literature Resource Center.
Shindo, C. J. (2000). "The Dust Bowl Myth." The Wilson Quarterly 24.4: 25. General
OneFile. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from General OneFile.
Bibliography
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Teaching Of Mice and Men" Shmoop.com. Shmoop
University, Inc., Retrieved on Nov. 11, 2012 from www.shmoop.com.
Sinise, G. (Director), Sinise, G. (Producer), & Foote, H. (Writer). (1992). Of mice
and men [Motion picture]. United States: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Steinbeck Center. (n.d.). Steinbeck Center. Retrieved on Nov. 6, 2011 from http://as.sjsu.edu/steinbeck/resources/index.jsp Steinbeck, J. (1993). Of mice and men. New York: Penguin Books. Steinbeck, J., & Prestwick House. (2009). Lead-ins to literature: Of mice and men. .
Clayton, DE: Prestwick House. Steinbeck, J., S. Shillinglaw, and J. Benson. (2003). America and Americans, and
selected non fiction. New York: Penguin. The Dust Bowl of the 1930s. (n.d.). The Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Retrieved from url.
Bibliography
Valjean, N. (1975). John Steinbeck, the errant knight: An intimate biography of his
California years. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. Van, A. M., Bruccoli, M., & Johns, S. (1982). Dictionary of literary biography
documentary series: An illustrated chronicle. Detroit: Gale Research. Van Kirk, S. (2011). Of mice and men: Notes. Lincoln, Neb.: Cliff's Notes.
Voices from the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin migrant worker collection, 1940-1941. (n.d.). Voices from the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Worker Collection, 1940-1941. Retrieved from url. Wiley: Steinbeck Review. (n.d.). Wiley: Steinbeck Review. Retrieved Nov. 7, 2012
from http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-STEI.html Windschuttle, K. (2002). "Steinbeck's myth of the Okies." New Criterion 20.10 :24+.
General OneFile. Retrieved Nov. 12, 2012 from General OneFile. Wormser, R. (1994). Growing up in the Great Depression. New York: Atheneum
Bibliography
